Button remover



NOV. 17, 1953 A, LUDGEWMT 2,659,141

BUTTON REMOVER Filed July 21, 1950 1% in Ill H IJJJJJUI Iiv :"EN TOR. ARTHUR E. LucmawAs-r A To lzmavs Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to an implement for removing buttons from clothing and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a button remover, so constructed that it severs the threads connecting the button to the clothing, without liability of damaging the clothing or fabric.

A further object is to provide a button remover of the above mentioned character which is highly simplified, compact, easy to manipulate and cheap to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a button remover which will accommodate substantially any size button encountered.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, c

Figure 1 is a plan view of a button removing implement embodying my invention and illustrating the use thereof,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the implement in use,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the implement removed, and,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates an elongated flat forked blade or button tensioner which is substantially rigid, and provided in one end with an elongated substantially V-shaped open ing or notch II, forming side elongated extensions or lifting arms I2, integral therewith. The inner opposed longitudinal edges of the arms I2 converge longitudinally rearwardly of the forward or free ends of the arms I2, as shown.

A button cutting or shearing blade I3 is provided, and has its rear end pivotally secured to the rear end of the forked blade I9 by a single rivet I4 or the like. The shearing blade I3 has preferably the same over-all length and width as the blade ID, and is substantially fiat, as shown. The opposed faces or sides of the blades II} and I3 are arranged in sliding contact, and one longitudinal edge of the shearing blade I3 is beveled to provide a straight longitudinal cutting edge I5, extending from the forward or free end of the blade I3 to a point near and forwardly of the rivet I4. The beveled or cutting edge I is inclined upwardly or away from the companion 2 forked blade I0 (Figure 4), so that the cutting or shearing takes place adjacent to the opposed flat contacting faces of the blades I0 and I3. The cutting blade I3 is preferably pointed at its forward or free end, as shown, so that the cutting blade may also serve for opening or slit ting seams and the like.

As shown in Figure 3, the blade I3 may be swung to the dotted line position thereof when said blade is to serve for opening or slitting. seams and the like. The blade It is provided at its rear end with a laterally extending lug I9 which serves as a stop element restraining the blade I3 from being rotated beyond the dotted line position thereof, which dotted line position is at an obtuse angle to the blade element Ill. The blade element I0 may therefore be employed as a handle for the cutting blade I3 when the device is employed for opening or slitting seams and the like.

In use, the cutting blade I 3 is swung away from. the forked or lifting blade I0 (Figure 3), and the lifting arms I2 are introduced beneath a button I6, connected to an article of clothing I1 or the like, by means of the usual thread !8. The extensions or arms I2 straddle the button attach ing thread I 8, as shown, and engage the under side of the button for lifting it from the clothing or fabric I1 and tensioning the attaching thread I8. While the button is thus lifted away from the clothing I1, and the thread I8 tensioned, the shearing blade I3 is swung closed (Figure 1), and the cutting edge I5 will shear the attaching thread I-8 close to the fabric I'I, without damaging the clothing or fabric in any manner. When the severing blade I3 is shifted to the closed or severing position, the inclined or beveled edge I5 engages the periphery or marginal edge of the button I6 and further lifts the button away from the fabric I1 and above the lifting blade I0, so that the severing blade I3 may pass between the button and lifting blade, as shown. The actual severing of the attaching thread I'8 thus takes place between the button I6 and lifting blade I0 (Figure 2), and the fabric I1 is positioned adjacent to the under side of the lifting blade II] or its side remote from the cutting blade I3, so that there is no liability of the cutting blade injuring the fabric II. The edges of the V-shaped opening or notch II forming the arms I2 are straight and perpendicular to the opposite flat faces of the lifting blade IO, so that a pure shearing action can be had between the cutting edge I5 and one of the arms I2. It is merely necessary to apply a slight squeezing or gripping pressure to the cutting blade 13, for causing it to shear the thread I8, and the cutting edge I5 is preferably sharpened or ground to a razor-like edge.

Since the opening H is substantially V-shaped, the lifting arm ID will accommodate substantially any size button having attaching threads I8 of substantially any size or diameter. My button remover is highly simplified, and very easy to manipulate. Buttons may be removed from.- old; clothing and the like with great speed and without liability of damaging the cloth or fabrics.

It is to be noted that the lifting blade I 0 is. formed with straight, parallel, longitudinal. side. edges, said side edges being straight and parallel from end to end of the lifting blade.v same. is true of the severing blade. Further, itmay be observed that the side edges of the severing blade l3 are so spaced apart as to form the sever-t ing blade to the same width as the lifting blade. Still further, it is believed worthy of note that the pivotal oonnectionoi. the blades to one, another is i posed medial-1y between. the. QPQsite. side, edges. of the respective blade-5,. as may be noted from Figure 3, the longated \l-shaped notch of the iiftinablade. also being disposed medially between the side edges of the lifting blade, that. 1ongitudinally and. centrally of the, lifting blade. The arrangement, is one. which Permits. the blades, in the fully closed. position of the device, tobe in full regist tation, with. the opposite sides thereof being flush with one another, thus to form a compact device, which will. occupy little space in a ewing. kit or. the lik Further, the arrang ment wherein the respective blades move into exact longitudinal alignment with, their side edges in flush r lation permits. the. user to. grasp the device in. one. h n w t the blades. spread. as in F gu e. 3,, and. with a button n ged. in. the slot l'l". Thereafter, the user simply presses the lades. toward one anothcn. until; as. he. blades b gin. to swing, into lon itudinal alignment, the button is severed by movement of. the. cutting e of the severin blade. l'3. past one edge of the notch ti, continued movement. of; the. blade l3. being effective to swin the same. into. full longitudinal. ali nment. with. the. lifting blade, HI.

It is to be understoodthat the. form of. the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

An implement for slitting seams and for removing buttons connected with a section of fabric by attaching threads, comprising a substantially fiat elongated lifting blade and handle element having straight parallel side edges from end to end and provided in one end with a V-shaped opening extending longitudinally and centrally of said element, said opening forming spaced lifting: arms for engagement beneath a button, a substantially fiat elongated severing and slitting blade arranged adjacent one face of the lifting blade: and slidably contacting the same, said blade having straight parallel side edges from end to. end, said lifting blade and handle element and said severing and slittingblade being oi; the same len th. and width, said element being pivotal-1y connected at. its other end to said blade, and a lug, formed on, said other end. oi the ele, ment. adjacent the pivotal connection. and. 1 1130.." jecting into the path of swinging movement, oil the blade, said lug being so, disposed as to, limit swinging movement of the blade.-

one direction.

3.9; beyond one extreme. position in which it is dis posed at an obtuse angle to the. element for. s1it-- ting seams, and a second position which, it traverses said. lifting arms,. the blade hayin a. cutting. edge formed along one side edge there,-.-

.1 of for coaction with one. of said. lifting arms to sever the attaching thread between. the button and said element when the blade is swung to,-

saidv second position.- 

